WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s efforts to reduce the workforce of U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development (USDA-RD) offices in Vermont and New Hampshire through buyouts and early retirement offers:

“Across America, and especially in Vermont, USDA-RD is critical to the success of our rural economy. This small but talented office makes the impossible, possible—providing services, grants, loans, and technical assistance to help strengthen rural communities. Their expertise is far-ranging, and goes well-beyond the field—from disaster recovery, to affordable housing support and health care access, to business development, to funding new energy and infrastructure projects.

“President Trump’s actions to undermine USDA-RD is a clear indicator that he is willing to abandon rural America. In our region, USDA-RD was already understaffed, operating full-stream-ahead but with only 50-70% of the necessary workforce. President Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE have now put the department on life-support. What the Trump Administration is doing to Vermont and New Hampshire to farmers, families, and rural communities is happening nationwide and every one of my colleagues should be outraged.”

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